KEY POINTS:
A classy allround performance from Suzie Bates lifted New Zealand to victory in the opening women's one-day cricket international against England at Taunton today.
She topscored with 82 in the White Ferns' 225 for seven before claiming three for 20 with the ball to help dismiss England for 204 in the opening game of a six-match series.
Opening the innings, Bates led the way for the tourists, hitting her runs off 100 balls, including seven fours.
She played straight and with excellent timing until she holed out to long-on in the dying overs.
Bates and Sara McGlashan, who contributed 34, put on 74 for the second wicket while handy lower order contributions from Nicola Browne, with 28, Sarah Tsukigawa, 21 not out, and Helen Watson, 20 not out, ensured the tail wagged.
New Zealand's ground fielding was top rate as they defended their score despite a fine 73 from English opener Jenny Gunn.
Captain Haidee Tiffen's early runout of Sarah Taylor inspired New Zealand, who effected three runs outs.
But Gunn refused to budge and faced 112 deliveries before her defiance was finally ended when Bates accepted a return catch.
Tsukigawa took two for 33 for the White Ferns.
The second match of the series starts at Stratford on Sunday night (NZT).
SCOREBOARD
New Zealand
S Bates c Atkins b Russell 82
R Kember c Smit b Shaw 3
S McGlashan b Gunn 34
H Tiffen st Smit b Colvin 23
A Mason c SC Taylor b Colvin 1
A Satterthwaite c SC Taylor b Colvin 5
N Browne c Russell b Gunn 28
S Tsukigawa not out 21
H Watson not out 20
Extras (2lb, 6w) 8
Total (for 7 wkts, 50 overs) 225
Fall: 7, 83, 133, 138, 146, 165, 198.
Bowling: N Shaw 8-2-27-1, L Askew 10-0-52-0, J Gunn 8-0-40-2 (1w), H Colvin 10-0-36-3 (1w), C Russell 9-0-45-1 (2w), B Morgan 5-0-23-0 (2w).
England
SJ Taylor run out 11
J Gunn c and b Bates 73
SC Taylor run out 19
L Greenway b Mason 21
C Atkins run out 32
B Morgan run out 14
L Askew lbw b Bates 0 4
J Smit c Bates b Tsukigawa 4
N Shaw c Bates b Tsukigawa 6
C Russell b Bates 4
H Colvin not out 2
Extras (2lb, 15w, 1nb) 18
Total (48.5 overs) 204
Fall: 19, 47, 108, 162, 178, 182, 187, 191, 198, 204.
Bowling: N Browne 8-2-29-0 (2w), H Watson 10-3-20-0, S Burke 4-0-28-0 (3w), A Satterthwaite 6-1-27-0 (4w), A Mason 9-0-45-1 (3w), S Tsukigawa 6.5-0-33-2 (1w), S Bates 5-0-20-3 (2nb).
Result: New Zealand won by 21 runs, lead six-match series 1-0.
- NZPA
